Bowling Green State University Athletics
Nate Thurmond Returns For Falcon Club Auction Odyssey
March 29, 2001 | Men's Basketball
March 29, 2001
By Brad Meyer, BGSU Marketing and Communications
One of Bowling Green's most celebrated student-athletes, Nate Thurmond of San Francisco, will return to his alma mater as honorary chairman for the 2nd Annual Falcon Club Auction Odyssey, May 19 in Olscamp Hall.
A 1963 University graduate, Thurmond, who will be visiting Bowling Green for the first time since the retirement of his basketball jersey nearly 15 years ago, is excited to be involved with an event which helps student-athletes strive towards receiving a good college education.
"It's very important for any individual who has been positively effected in some way by their experience at Bowling Green to give back to the University," said Thurmond, who today is an owner/operator of Big Nate's Barbecue in San Francisco and a community relations ambassador for the NBA's Golden State Warriors.
"My father instilled in me, at a very young age, how important a college education is," said Thurmond. "Attending a college or university gives an individual the opportunity to soak up knowledge as well as meet new people. A college education also opens doors to endless possibilities."
During the early 1960's, Thurmond was an All-American basketball center on two Mid-American Conference championship teams while earning unanimous first-team All-MAC honors in his three seasons at BGSU. He went on to enjoy a 14-year NBA career in which he was selected to seven All-Star teams. Thurmond was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1985 and honored in 1998 as one of the top 50 players in NBA history.
Jane Myers, BGSU assistant athletic director for development, said that Thurmond's return is exciting and gratifying. "It's important to keep former student-athletes involved with the University since they're the ones who helped create our Falcon traditions."
"Their involvement provides a bridge between the past and the present," she said. "It underscores the loyalty and commitment embodied by the phrase 'Once a Falcon, always a Falcon'."
Beginning at 6 p.m., individuals will be able to bid on more than 200 sports, art, entertainment and travel related items during the silent and live auctions. Some of the highlights include golfing with ESPN broadcaster, and 1994 University graduate, Jason Jackson and other ESPN on-air personalities in Hartford, Conn., and dinner and BGSU football tickets for four with President Sidney Ribeau.
Last year's auction raised more than $90,000, which was used to create a Falcon Club Endowment to support scholarships for student-athletes.
To purchase tickets or for more information about the auction, contact the Falcon Club at (419) 372-7100.
